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World Naked Bike Ride

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I love riding my bike because the fast speeds and breeze on my skin make me feel so free and alive. Think of how free you'd feel if you weren't wearing any clothes.

World Naked Bike Rides happen all over the world, and no, it's not a way for nudists to get daily exercise. They are peaceful demonstrations whose main purpose is to bring awareness about the dangers and vulnerability faced by bikers on the road. It reminds automobile drivers that they need to share the street and pay more attention to their fellow two-wheelers. The Naked Bike Ride is also a protest against cars and the negative impact our dependency on oil-based fuels has on our planet. Riding naked brings attention to the act of bike riding and urges people to use environmentally friendly transportation instead.

If you're interested in finding a naked bike ride demonstration near you, check out this list of rides.

To see some photos and a video of naked bike rides read more.

This video was taken during a Naked Bike Ride in Boulder, CO.

Just to warn you, some of the pictures below are NSWF! Before checking out the photos taken from places such as Spain and London, tell me if this sounds like something you would do.

View 20 Photos ›

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Bike Riding and Back Pain: Part One

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:00:00 -0800

Bike riding is great exercise since it gets you outside into the fresh air, it works your heart and lungs, and many people find it to be easier on their bodies than running. Some people may experience pain in their lower back, upper back, and shoulders, and a lot of it has to do with their bike. Check out these tips to help prevent discomfort:

Make sure the bike is the right style for where you plan on riding. You don't want to be taking a road bike, that's made for speediness on flat surfaces, out mountain biking. The right kind of bike will support your body better.
Also make sure it's the right size for you. You'll know it's the right height, if you can stand with your feet flat straddling the bike, and the front bar and your lady business are about two to four inches apart. If you have a women's bike where the bar is slanted, imagine that the bar is horizontal and measure from that line.
Be sure the seat is the appropriate height. When sitting on the bike, your leg should be almost straight when on the down stroke. Having your knees lock can cause injury and a jarring feeling in your lower back.
Find a comfortable handlebar height. Start with your handlebar stem one inch lower than your seat. If this position bothers your lower back, you can raise the bars slightly until your back feels good. If you're riding on tough terrain, higher handlebars may be better.
Don't raise the handlebars so that your spine is in an upright position. A straight back doesn't allow any give when you hit road bumps, and will only make your vertebrae jam together, which will aggravate existing back pain.

Stay tuned for Part Two, all about riding technique and posture.

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Bike Riding and Back Pain: Part Two

FitSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:30:00 -0700

Now that you have your bike set up to fit you to further prevent back, shoulder, and neck pain, you want to ride your bike correctly. These tips should help you have a smooth, pain-free ride.

Check your pedaling technique. If you glance at your knees while pedaling, they should be going straight up and down. Try to keep them from pointing out to the side as you pedal as this will make you pedal slower, could injure your knees or hips, and could be causing low-back pain.
Have good cycling posture. Your back should be slightly arched up like a hill, not swaybacked with your tailbone sticking up. This slight arch will allow you to engage your abs, and is also necessary when you hit bumps in the road. Your back will arch up a little more to absorb the shock. If your spine was arched down, hitting bumps would cause your back to bow in even more, which can cause low-back pain.
While pedaling, make sure not to have your bike set on a gear that makes pedaling really difficult. Switching to an easier gear could ease your back pain.
Be mindful of your shoulders. Consciously remind yourself to relax them away from your ears. Scrunching them up will cause tension, which in turn can cause neck and upper-back pain.

Want to see what else may help ease your back pain? Then read more.

Also make sure that your elbows have a slight bend in them to allow them to act as shock absorbers. This can relieve tension in the shoulders and upper back.
Wear the right sized helmet. One that doesn't fit well can wobble and cause neck pain.
Even though bikes have saddles so you can sit, periodically stand since sitting for long periods of time can make for a sore lower back.
Once your ride is over, be sure to stretch out your hips, hamstrings, and lower back.

Why Do You Ride a Bike?

FitSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Whether you're a biking newbie or a seasoned urban biking vet, I can give you plenty of reasons to ride. It's fun, it's good exercise, and it's an eco-friendly way to get around. So what's your reason?

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Fittingly Green: Bike at Least Part of Your Commute

FitSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Biking to work is good for your health and good for the planet since your bike won't emit harmful pollution. If your commute is too far to go all the way on your wheels, then just bike some of the way. Pack your bike in your car, drive part of the way, then park your car, get on your bike, and finish the commute on your seat. If you ride the bus to work, bring along your bike and get off a few stops early so you can bike the rest of the way. You'll burn calories, strengthen your heart and quads, save money on gas, and you'll be cutting down on air pollution. Just be sure to wear your helmet for safety.

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Get in Gear: Garmin GPS for Your Bike

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:00:00 -0700

Do you typically stick to the well-known and heavily populated bike path when you go for a ride? Well, now you don't have to. Check out these new bike GPS units made by Garmin.

They're called the Edge 605 and Edge 705. They snap into a mount that you attach to your handlebars and they include basic maps so you don't get lost. If you want more specific maps, or a whole array from different areas, you can purchase separate cards. Just plug in the detailed MapSource® City Navigator® street maps on a preloaded data card, and get turn-by-turn directions on a sunlight-readable, color display as you pedal. If you prefer off-roading, you can also get topographical maps. So cool!

The Edge 605 can track your speed, distance, time, calories burned and altitude. The Edge 705 can do all that plus it can track your heart rate, cadence (the number of rotations of your crank - the part of the bike that is connected to the pedals), climb and decent. These GPS units are definitely for the ~~infatuated~~ dedicated bicyclists, who want to track their ride with the utmost detail, and ride wherever their little feet want to pedal.

How much do these Garmin GPS gems cost? To find out read more

You can purchase these for a pretty penny - the suggested retail price is $430.75 for the 605, and a whopping $541.65 for the 705.

Fit's Tip: If you are just looking for a basic GPS for your bike, check out the Edge 205, which is only $269.22. It won't tell you what your heart rate is or your speed, but it will help you keep track of where you are.

Make Your Next Date a Fitness Date

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Dating can definitely put a damper on your healthy lifestyle. All those drinks, popcorn at the movies, decadent dinners out, and late-night talks over gelato are bound to mess up your healthy routine.

I'm not saying you should forgo all that delicious food and never eat out, but why not throw some active dates in there as well? Here are some ideas:

Meet at your gym (he can use your guest pass) and you guys can work out before heading to dinner.
You could sit and talk at a coffee shop, or you can walk and talk instead.
Plan an afternoon hike on the weekend.
Go horseback riding. You can take a lesson together.
Take dance lessons together, or just go dancing.
Visit an indoor rock climbing gym.
Take a partner yoga class or other fitness class together.
Go ice skating at an indoor rink. Many arenas offer times for public skating, so call ahead to find out what times are available.
Rent bikes together and take a tour of the town you live in.
Play a game of tennis, golf (with no cart), football, baseball, or whatever. If you're not into playing a whole game, just play catch, go to the batting cages, or hit golf balls at the driving range.

If you have any other ideas for fitness dates, be sure to share them below.

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You Asked: How to Survive Finals

FitSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:30:00 -0700

It is finals season and surviving the crazy and rigorous study and exam schedule can be beyond difficult.

Here are a few suggestions and tips for you as you enter survival / study mode.

Routine: Stick to your normal sleeping, eating and exercising schedule as much as possible. This means don't suddenly up your caffeine intake, since it can interfere with your ability to sleep.
Take Breaks: Put your study materials down every two hours and relax. Let your eyes, brain and body take a rest. This will help you study for longer - I swear.
Exercise: Partake in some mellow form of exercise daily. Take a walk or a bike ride and let your mind wander, you might figure out a new argument to that 50 point essay question.
Eat Well: Eat balanced meals every day, and healthy snacks too. Don't short change yourself nutritionally, you are under serious stress and your body and brain need nutritious foods - not bags of Doritos balanced out by a cup of green tea.
Avoid the Munchies: If you are staying up way past your usual bedtime, chances are you will crave sugary, carbohydrate snacks since your brain needs carbs to function. Avoid the powdered sugar donuts from the vending machine and eat some complex carbs that you have prepared ahead of time (brown rice, quinoa) or eat some healthy whole grain cereal like Kashi. Who doesn't love a bowl of cereal at 1 a.m.?
Attitude: Keep a positive attitude. You are almost done and summer is almost here, and avoid the "nervous nellies" since anxiety can be contagious.

Good luck!!!!

Gear Review: Clear2Go Water Bottle With Filter

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:56 -0800

I've been carrying a reusable water bottle with me for years now, filling up on tap water as needed. Well, portable water just got a little cleaner with the Clear2Go water bottle ($16). It's your standard water bottle with a squeeze top made for cycling, but it comes with its very own water filter. The filter adds a little weight to the bottle, but it filters out 99.9 percent of microbial cysts (cryptosporidium and giardia), reduces the chlorine taste of water, and reduces lead and mercury. Using trickle down technology developed originally by NASA, one filter lasts for 100 gallons, or 533 refills - keeping an estimated 757 plastic bottles out of landfills. Replacement filters are available in two packs and cost $13.

Lance Armstrong is a fan of these eco and health friendly reusable bottles, and if you become of fan of Clear2Go on Facebook you can enter to win a bike ride with the seven-time winner of the Tour de France. You can purchase your mobile filtration system directly from Clear2Go. They make great holiday gifts and would definitely get you well on your way to filling a loved one's stocking.

When Winter Rolls In, Don't Give Up on Working Out

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:30:52 -0800

It isn't hard to explain why our workouts get a little lackadaisical when Winter rolls in - 'cause, baby, it's cold outside - and it's pretty understandable that a lot of us lose our motivation to get outdoors for a run or a bike ride. So, how actually do people who work out through the Winter do it? An article from The New York Times reveals exactly that - and how some people manage to get up "the high activation energy" required to stay committed to fitness during the bitter Winter months.

Turns out, if you're new to fitness, you're more likely to give into a little workout hiatus when it gets colder and darker out. According to Janet Buckworth, an exercise physiologist at Ohio State University, it's the opposite for exercise veterans. “If you are beyond the point that you are learning how to exercise, you can’t imagine not running in bad weather,” she says. In fact, some exercise enthusiasts relish the challenge of an outdoor workout in Winter, even going on "epic" bike rides during snow storms and blizzards.

Regardless, you don't have to be an extremist to keep up a Winter workout routine. The key? Just get into something you could really stick with long-term. Choose a form of exercise that you're excited to do, and can keep up when Winter arrives. Group classes are great, and Buckworth recommends finding something you can do indoors, getting a friend to go with you, and even something as simple as updating your playlist with music you love to keep exercise fun and help you stay committed to your fitness regime.